What is the fat pouch at the base of the neck?

Author: Herminia Rice  |  Last update: Monday, October 6, 2025

A hump behind your shoulders, sometimes called a buffalo hump or a dorsocervical fat pad, is a buildup of fat behind and slightly below your neck.

Why do I have a fat pad at the base of my neck?

Causes of dorsocervical fat pad include any of the following: Certain medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS. Long-term use of certain glucocorticoid medicines, including prednisone, dexamethasone, and hydrocortisone. Obesity (usually causes more generalized fat deposition)

How to get rid of fat hump at the base of the neck?

Weight management: Losing weight can help reduce fat deposition at the back of the neck. Eating a healthy diet plays an important role in weight loss and maintenance, and your doctor can offer support, resources and guidance.

What is a fatty lump on the base of the neck?

Lipomas are benign (not cancerous), fatty lumps that are quite common. Lipomas can appear anywhere where you have fat cells and most commonly grow on the neck, chest, back, shoulders, arms and thighs. The cause of lipomas is often unknown, but some families have a genetic tendency to develop them.

Why do I have a bulge at the base of my neck?

There are many causes of lumps in the neck. The most common lumps or swellings are enlarged lymph nodes. These can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, cancer (malignancy), or other rare causes. Swollen salivary glands under the jaw may be caused by infection or cancer.

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How do you get rid of the fat on the base of your neck?

Exercise
  1. Chin tucks: Sit or stand in a comfortable position. ...
  2. Neck stretches: Sit or stand in a comfortable position. ...
  3. Standing push-ups: Stand at an arm's distance from a door frame so that your arms are at 90 degrees to the length of the frame. ...
  4. Shoulder-blade (scapular) squeeze: Sit comfortably in a chair.

What is a lump of fat below the neck?

A hump behind your shoulders, sometimes called a buffalo hump or a dorsocervical fat pad, is a buildup of fat behind and slightly below your neck. It is one sign of lipodystrophy, which is the medical term for a problem with how your body makes, uses, and stores fat.

What is the lump at the base of your neck called?

The most frequently seen lumps or swellings in the neck are enlarged lymph nodes. This can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, malignancy, and other rare causes.

Should neck lipoma be removed?

No treatment is usually necessary for a lipoma. However, if the lipoma bothers you, is painful or is growing, your doctor might recommend that it be removed.

What are the symptoms of Dercum disease?

What are the symptoms of Dercum disease? This syndrome consists of four cardinal symptoms: (1) multiple, painful, fatty masses; (2) generalized obesity, usually in menopausal age; (3) weakness and fatigability; and (4) mental disturbances, including emotional instability, depression, epilepsy, confusion and dementia.

Why is the base of my neck fat?

The causes for this can be anything from water retention to more serious causes such as hormonal, thyroid or gland problems. Or, it could simply be genetic, some people are genetically predisposed to the appearance of neck fat.

Can you really fix a neck hump?

Neck Hump is a common condition which can cause aesthetic changes as well as pain and discomfort, the great news is that it is very treatable. By looking to improve your posture and by performing some simple exercises with consistency you can make a significant change to your symptoms.

Can sleeping without a pillow reduce neck hump?

Dowager's Hump Sleeping Position

Your spine never gets an opportunity to elongate. If you're a back sleeper, try to minimize your pillows as much as possible, so that you have the support just in the small of your neck. You don't really need anything under your head.

What is the fat at the bottom of my neck?

Overview. A buffalo hump is a fat deposit at the base of the neck between the shoulder blades. It's important to note that a buffalo hump is not the same as a dowager's hump. Liposuction is often the best way to eliminate a buffalo hump.

Does insurance cover buffalo hump removal?

Generally, insurance companies view buffalo hump removal as a cosmetic procedure, which means they typically do not cover it. However, if the buffalo hump is causing significant health issues, such as pain or mobility problems, it might be classified as medically necessary.

Is neck hump permanent?

It is feasible to treat a neck hump that has formed. Initially the cause needs to be ascertained by eg a physiotherapist, who will undertake an assessment. A neck hump of long standing hump will prove more difficult to improve than one that is forming.

Why don't doctors want to remove lipomas?

Somewhat doughy in texture and usually under two inches wide, they tend to be harmless, so lipoma removal is not always necessary. If you press on one, it will move easily. Lipomas seldom are painful, unless they touch nearby nerve endings or contain an abundance of blood vessels.

How to shrink lipomas naturally?

Flaxseed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties and may help to shrink lipomas. Take one tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily or apply it directly to the lipoma and massage gently for a few minutes. Repeat daily until the size of the lipoma decreases.

Will insurance cover lipoma removal?

Despite the fact that most lipomas are harmless, lipoma removal surgery is generally covered by insurance because they are symptomatic.

How do I get rid of a bump on the base of my neck?

The best exercises for a neck hump include:
  1. Shoulder rolls.
  2. Chin tucks.
  3. Cat pose.
  4. Chin-to-shoulder stretch.
  5. Squeezing your shoulder blades together.

What does a bulge in your neck mean?

The most common cause is swollen lymph nodes due to a virus or an infection like tonsillitis or strep throat. This is a standard immune system response that occurs when your body works to fight off sickness. A recent or active fever points to this as the culprit.

What happens if lipoma is left untreated?

If left untreated, most lipomas will remain the same size or grow slowly. However, they can become uncomfortable or unsightly, prompting many patients to seek removal for cosmetic reasons or to relieve discomfort. Learn more about lipoma diagnosis and treatment in this related blog post.

What is the fat sack on the neck?

A buffalo hump, also known as a dorsocervical fat pad, refers to a collection of fat accumulated on the back of the neck, between the shoulder blades. It can be caused by a variety of underlying medical conditions, like Cushing syndrome, as well as certain medications.

What does a fatty lipoma look like?

Lipomas are usually just under the skin, feel soft to touch, and are usually shaped like a dome. Most are about 5cm or less. Most lipomas don't usually cause any pain or other symptoms. But this depends on where in the body it is.

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